Biological Aspects and Life Table Parameters of the Predatory Mite, Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) Reared on Different Diets

Abstract

The predator mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor is an effective predator that is used to control the invasion of Tetranychus urticae Koch on crop plants. Experiments for rearing N. californicus on different food sources were carried out under laboratory condition (25±2ºC, 75+5 % RH). N. californicus was reared on three different food types; two types of phytophagous mites (Tetranychus urticae and Brevipalpus phoenicis Geijskes) and date palm pollens. In response to food type, the periods of N. californicus immature stages were 4.79, 8.14, and 11.79 days for females and 3.93, 6.71, and 10.71 days for males when fed on T. urticae, B. phoenicis, and date palm pollen, respectively. The developmental periods (life cycle) of both female and male individuals were longer when they fed on date palm pollen (14.07, 12.86 days for females and males respectively) compared with 6.93, 5.79 days for females and males in case of feeding on T. urticae and 10.29, 8.79 days for those reared on B. phoenicis. N. californicus males completed their developmental stages on the studied food types successfully ,however, N. californicus females were significantly affected by the type of food, which recorded the highest number of eggs per each female when fed on T. urticae (32.14 eggs), followed by females that fed on B. phoenicis and date palm pollen (13.29 and 3.86 eggs, respectively). Obtained results provide alternatives of T. urticae to rear N. californicus for mass production although the efficiency was not the same.